Walk into Hitchcock Paper Co., and you’ll quickly realize this isn’t your average stationery shop.
There’s color. There’s personality. There’s a pen wall that might make you question every pen you’ve ever owned. And somewhere in between the journals, cards, and perfectly arranged paper goods, you’ll find Sarah Hitchcock Burzio — designer, business owner, and the creative force behind it all.
Sarah built something that reflects how people actually communicate: a little honest, a little funny, and sometimes just blunt enough to say what we’re all thinking.
With a background in design and love for stationery, Sarah saw an opportunity when a longtime local stationery shop in Occoquan closed its doors.
Hitchcock Paper Co. became a storefront in 2020 and endured the pandemic by blending thoughtful design with everyday usefulness.
The cards lean witty. Sometimes a little sarcastic. Always relatable. Whether it’s a get-well card that gently threatens to check in on you or a birthday card that skips the fluff, the brand embraces honesty with a sense of humor.
One standout greeting card that says it all? “You’re a ten, even if Excel thinks you’re October.”
Her favorite part of the job is not just the products, it’s the people.
From travelers passing through to regulars who stop in every month, Hitchcock Paper Co. has become a place where connections happen naturally. It’s where quick visits turn into conversations, and customers turn into familiar faces.
Sarah a values the community of fellow small business owners around her who are supportive, collaborative, and always showing up for one another. It’s that shared energy that makes running a small business feel a little less like going it alone.
Sarah is also the Executive Director of Visit Occoquan, a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a goal of sharing our unique historic town with 80+ small and family owned businesses and boutiques with visitors and locals.
That sense of community is also what makes Prince William County the right fit. Close enough to D.C. to draw in visitors, but with a distinct identity all its own, Sarah noted that the county offers both reach and a strong local network — something she values deeply as a business owner.
Because of those values, Sarah finds time to be a member of the Calibrate Committee, a PWCDEDT small business advisory council helping shape programming that supports small businesses and entrepreneurs throughout Prince William County.
See it all in person at Hitchcock Paper Co., located at 125 Mill Street, Occoquan, VA.